U.S. patent number 4,843,571 [Application Number 06/879,062] was granted by the patent office on 1989-06-27 for office automation systems.
This patent grant is currently assigned to OCE-Nederland B. V.. Invention is credited to Hendricus W. H. M. Kessels, Charles Lapoutre, Ronald M. W. Notermans, Paulus W. E. Verhelst.
United States Patent |
4,843,571 |
Notermans , et al. |
June 27, 1989 |
Office automation systems
Abstract
An improvement in an office automation system for composing and
printing text such that when the presence of an operator is
required at the printer, the operator can instruct the system to
delay the printing action and wait for a command to start printing.
The start command may be generated by the printer itself, when a
certain required action has been performed, or by the operator, by
means of keying in a code at the control panel of the printer. A
display at the control panel of the printer may show a message
related to the cause of the delay.
Inventors: |
Notermans; Ronald M. W. (JV
Velden, NL), Verhelst; Paulus W. E. (PV Venlo,
NL), Lapoutre; Charles (TB Nuenen, NL),
Kessels; Hendricus W. H. M. (AN Venlo, NL) |
Assignee: |
OCE-Nederland B. V. (Venlo,
NL)
|
Family
ID: |
19846230 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/879,062 |
Filed: |
June 26, 1986 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
358/1.18;
715/201 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J
3/46 (20130101); G06F 21/84 (20130101); G06K
15/00 (20130101); G06K 2215/0082 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B41J
3/46 (20060101); B41J 3/44 (20060101); G06F
21/00 (20060101); G06K 15/00 (20060101); G06F
1/00 (20060101); G06F 003/09 (); G06F 015/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;364/518-520,523
;340/703,723,747 ;101/306 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61571 |
|
Mar 1981 |
|
EP |
|
91082 |
|
May 1984 |
|
JP |
|
127182 |
|
Jul 1984 |
|
JP |
|
1444533 |
|
Aug 1976 |
|
GB |
|
Primary Examiner: Harkcom; Gary V.
Assistant Examiner: Herndon; H. R.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reed Smith Shaw & McClay
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. In an office automation system having memory means for storing
coded information for a print job, a printer including a print
station for printing a print job of text information on receiving
material after the supply of corresponding coded information, at
least one command input means for inputting control commands, and a
control means connected to said command inputting means for
creating a print job after the supply of a first control command,
connected to said printer for controlling a print job in response
to the first control command and further connected to said memory
means for obtaining coded print job information during a print job,
the improvement in combination therewith comprising a detection
means connected to said print station for providing a detection
signal upon detection of an operator action at said print station
in response to a second control command added to the first control
command to postpone a print job until the occurrence of said
operator action, said detection signal being transferred to said
control means for commencing the operation of said printer.
2. In an office automation system according to claim 1, wherein
said print station comprises input means for inputting a code and
wherein said detection means in response to said second control
command determines whether an input code to said input means
corresponds to a required code and, upon conformity between the
compared codes, generates said detection signal.
3. An office automation system according to claim 2, including a
semi-automatic feeder connected to and cooperating with said
printer for feeding print receiving material to said printing
station wherein said detection means in response to the said second
control command detects whether said receiving material is present
in said semi-automatic feeder and if present provides said
detection signal.
4. An office automation system according to claims 1, 2 or 3,
including a printer display means for displaying a message, wherein
said printer display means displays a message determined by said
second control command when said control means is waiting for the
said detection signal prior to starting a printing job determined
by said first control command.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an office automation system and
particularly to a system which includes a second control means
having a detection system which responds to an operator controlled
event for operating a printer function.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Office automation systems are generally well known, see for
example, Japanese Patent Application Nos. A-59127182 and A-5991082
and British Pat. No. 1 444 533. Also known are systems having a
memory means for storing coded information and a printer which can
print coded information on a sheet of receiving material fed to the
printing station of the printer. Typically, these systems include
at least one command inputting device for inputting control
commands and a control system which respond to commands for
carrying out a printing job. The control system usually draws from
the memory during the performance of the printing job, the
information specified by the first control command and feeds it to
the printer for printing. A system of this type is described in
European Patent Application No. 61 571.
In the system described in the European application, a number of
word processors are connected to a common printer. A printing job
can be started from each word processor. If a printing job has to
be performed by means of such a system, a number of operations have
first to be carried out by the operator at the printer, such as
changing the type of paper. In such case, the operator will first
have to carry out these operations and then input the order for
carrying out the printing job. If the printer is at some distance
from the work station, as is not unusual in large office systems,
the operator is often required to go back and forth from the work
station to the printer.
Requirements for operator attention are annoying at best and
substantially reduce the efficiency of the system. Accordingly, it
is an object of the invention to provide a control means to obviate
the need for operator intervention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Generally, the present invention provides an office automation
system with a detection means for detecting a specific event caused
by the operator with the printer. The detection means responses to
a second control command added to a first control command for
detecting whether the event determined by the second control
command takes place. In response to the second control command the
control system postpones the start of the performance of the
printing job until the detection signal has been received after
detecting the event.
In the office automation system of the present invention, the
operator can postpone the performance of the printing job by
inputting an extra control command. The printing job is postponed
until the operator has carried out at the printer the operations
determined by the additional control program. These operations are
detected by the control system so that after detection of the
operations, the delay is cancelled and there is no need for the
operator to go back to the command inputting device to restart the
printer.
In another embodiment the printer is provided with an inputting
device for inputting a code by the operator. The detection means in
response to the said second control determines whether the input
code corresponds to the required code and, if it does, it provides
a detection signal which the operator can cancel to postpone the
start of the printing job.
With embodiment printing can be postponed, such as in the case of
printing very confidential information, until an authorized person
is present at the printer and has inputted the required code. In
such situations, the code to be input will generally be a secret
identity code.
In another embodiment of the invention the printer is provided with
a semi-automatic feeder which conveys to the printing station a
sheet of receiving material manually introduced into the
semi-automatic feeder. The detection means in response to the
second control command detects whether a sheet is present in the
semi-automatic feeder. If a sheet is present it is detected and a
detection signal is provided. This affords the opportunity for
easily printing on a different type of paper fed via the
semi-automatic feeder.
Further embodiments are provided in which printer is provided with
a display means for displaying a message. Also, the printer is
provided with means which can display a message determined by the
second control command in the event of the control device waiting
for the said detection signal prior to starting the printing job
determined by the first control command.
The invention and other advantages thereof will be explained in
detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
The sole FIGURE is a diagrammatic representation of a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to the sole figure, the office automation system
comprises a number of work stations 1 coupled via a central control
station 2 to a common printer 3. Work station 1 is of a
conventional type, such as a word processor, provided with a
keyboard 4 and a screen 5. Keyboard 4 can be used to input and edit
texts and for inputting control commands for the office automation
system. The input or edited text can be displayed on the
screen.
Central control station 2 comprises a memory 6 in which the input
text information is stored. Central control station 2 is connected
via a data transmission channel 7 to printer 3. Printer 3 is
preferably a laser printer of conventional type comprising a
control panel 8, a laser print module 9, an automatic feeder 10, a
semiautomatic feeder 11 and a delivery tray 12. Control panel 8 is
provided with push buttons 13 for manually inputting codes and
display means 14 for displaying.
By means of automatic feeder 10 it is possible to feed sheets of
receiving material from a storage magazine 15 to laser print module
9. Sheets of receiving material fed manually to input slot 16 can
be introduced by means of the semi-automatic feeder 11. Information
fed to the printer via data transmission channel 7 is printed in
laser print module 9 on a sheet fed via the automatic feeder 10 or
the semi-automatic feeder 11. After the information has been
printed in the laser print module 9 on a fed sheet the printed
sheet is deposited in the tray 12.
If a user of a conventional office automation system wishes to
print part of the text information stored in memory 6, a standard
input command is introduced to start a printing job via keyboard 4
of work station 1. The latter transmits the input command to
central control station 2, which then creates a printing job for
sending the text information specified by the said input command
from memory 6. The newly created printing job is put into a queue
of printing jobs which has already been created but not yet
finished. The central control station 2 calculates a first time
required by the printer to perform the newly created printing job
and sends this information to work station 1. Moreover, the
expected total time needed for printing all of the printing jobs in
the queue is calculated and the total time (in second time) is also
sent to work station 1 in question.
By displaying these times on the screen of the work station and by
having the second time counted back to zero with a real clock, the
operator always knows exactly when his new printing job can be
performed.
By inputting additional successive printing jobs, work station 1
displays the calculated times for every job together with a job
dedicated running indicator. Central control station 2 processes
the printing jobs in the queue in order. As soon as the printer has
completed printing the information offered by a preceding job, the
next printing job in the queue is started. After the printing job
has been started, central control 2 draws the text information for
printing from memory 6 and transmits it via data transmission
channel 7 to printer 3, in which the information is printed on the
sheet-like receiving material offered to the laser print module 9
via one of the feeders.
In the present invention, a plurality of commands to control the
performance of the printing job can be added to the standard input
commands used to starting the printing jobs. A command of this kind
may, for example, indicate that the paper in magazine 10 must be
changed before starting the printing job. Another command, for
example, may indicate that the information must be printed on a
sheet of receiving material input via the semi-automatic feeder 11.
Another command, for example, may indicate that the printing job
may not be started until a certain identity code has been input via
the keys 13 on the control panel 8. This identity code may be added
to the command. Changing the paper in the magazine 10 may, for
example, be necessary if the information to be printed is to be
produced on a type of paper differing from a standard type, e.g.,
if it is required to print on a different color paper, or if a form
is to be used which has a preprinted section.
The use of the semi-automatic feeder may, for example, be very
attractive in preparing reports, in which only the front page has
to be printed on a different type of paper. The use of the identity
code has particular advantages in printing confidential
information. In this way it is possible to hold up printing the
confidential information until an authorized person is present at
the printer, thus minimizing any risk of confidential information
coming into the hands of people for whom it is not intended. If a
command indicating that a paper change in magazine 10 is necessary,
it is added to the input command for starting a printing job.
In such case the printing process proceeds as follows: after the
input command has been inputted, a printing job is created in the
usual way and put in the queue. However, the printing job is not
started as soon as that job comes to the head of the queue. What is
done is that a message is sent to the work station where the
printing order in question has been inputted. This message is
displayed on screen 5 of that work station 1. The work station
operator must respond to this message within a predetermined time,
e.g., 30 seconds, via the keyboard 4, by inputting a command
intended for this purpose, to show that the message was received.
If there is no response within that predetermined time, the
printing job is put to the back of the queue. If, however, the
response is received within the predetermined time, a message is
sent to the printer, which is displayed on display means 14 by the
printer. The central control station waits for a second
predetermined time, e.g., two minutes, for an answer-back from
printer 3 to this message. The printer will send this answer-back
after the operator has operated a predetermined code key of the
keys 13. During this second predetermined time between the message
to the printer and the expected answer-back by the printer, the
operator has time to change the paper in magazine 15. If the
answer-back has come in time, the printing job is started and the
information to be printed is reproduced on the paper freshly placed
in the magazine. After the completion of this printing job, the
central control station 2 sends a message to printer 3 which
indicates that the operator can again fill the magazine with the
standard paper. This message is also displayed on display means 14.
The operator has the opportunity for a predetermined time to place
the standard paper in magazine 15 and send a message to central
control station 2 by pressing a predetermined key of keys 13 on the
control panel. The message being to the effect that the standard
paper has again been placed in the magazine. If a message of this
kind is not sent within that time, the printer is not released for
the next printing order and at the beginning of a subsequent
printing job a message will appear on display means 14 to show that
a non-standard type of paper is present in the magazine.
If, when a print order is inputted, a command has been given to
understand that a print must be printed on sheets fed via the
semi-automatic paper feeder 11, as soon as this print job has
reached the head of the queue, a message will be sent to the work
station 1 and the print job will again be put at the back of the
queue unless the operator has responded to this message within the
predetermined time. If the response has been made at the proper
time a message is fed by central control station 2 to printer 3 and
this message is displayed on display means 14. This message
indicates that a sheet of receiving material must be introduced
into the machine via entry slot 16 of the semi-automatic feeder.
Also, the message indicates that the operator must show by pressing
a predetermined key 13 that the printing job may be started. As
soon as the operator has pressed the correct key 13 and a detector
17 has detected the presence of a sheet in the semi-automatic paper
feeder, printer 3 sends an answer-back to central control station
2. If central control station 2 receives the answer-back within a
predetermined time after the message has been sent, the printing
job is started and the information to be printed on the first sheet
will be fed to the printer 3 for printing. If the answer-back is
not received by control station 2 within the predetermined time,
the job in question is again put at the back of the queue.
After each sheet introduced via feeder 11 has been printed, the
printing job is interrupted and central control station 2 transmits
a message to printer 3 to show that a subsequent sheet can be fed
in via the semiautomatic paper feeder 11. This message is displayed
on display means 14. As soon as detector 17 detects that a sheet
has been entered, a supplementary command is fed to central control
station 2. If the supplementary command is received before a
predetermined time has elapsed, e.g., 30 seconds, after the message
has been sent to printer 3 by the control station, control station
2 offers the information to be printed on the fed sheet to printer
3 for printing. If the supplementary command is not received within
the predetermined period, performance of the job that has already
been interrupted is finally stopped.
If the command added to the input printing order indicates that
confidential information is involved, then as soon as the printing
job in question reaches the head of the queue a message is sent to
the work station 1 at which the relevant order has been input. This
message is reproduced on the screen 5 of this work station. If this
work station operator responds to this message within a
predetermined period, e.g., 30 seconds, and inputs an answer-back
command via the keyboard 4 of this work station, a message will
then be transmitted to printer 3 to show that an identity code
input is required. The operator of the printer 3 then has the
opportunity to input the identity code within a predetermined time
via the keys 13 of the control panel. As soon as the correct code
has been input, a message is fed to control station 2 which in
response thereto starts to perform the printing job in
question.
While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been
shown and described in particularity, it may be otherwise embodied
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *